Week of May 19 (Psalm 119:6-19)
Psalm 119:6-19
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God's Empowering Word
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Psalm 119:6-19 〰️ God's Empowering Word 〰️
Well, this is our first week out of Mark Vol. 1 and will serve as a bridge to our next series (Psalm 23), giving us a little bit to transition. So this week, we're in Psalm 119, verses 9-16.
Psalm 119 is a bit of an odd bird. This psalm is by far the longest of all the psalms, clocking in at 176 verses, with 22 stanzas and eight two-part sections. This chapter of Scripture is impressive in sheer length and creative artistry. Psalm 119 is practically its own book, as it spans the spectrum of human emotion, experience, and response to the Lord. In verses 9-16, we see this pervasive concept of love and romance around the Lord and His words. This passage could almost be read as a love letter to God, as the author expresses an earnest desire to know His commands, precepts, and statutes (v10, 12, 14-16). With the context of all 119, it's hinted that the "commands," "statutes," and "decrees" aren't just the legislations put in place by the Lord but all of His character that's been revealed throughout Scripture. God's Law is written and seen all through Scripture, both in the rules and interactions with His children.
This is a bit of a shift from a New Testament perspective. When we read about the Law in the New Testament, we think, "Oh, that's outdated, doesn't apply to me, and is bad." Here, however, the Psalmist declares that righteousness comes by obeying God's Word. It's not a "do good to be good" perspective on holiness before God, but a testimony that obeying the Lord and internalizing His Word transforms and changes us. The Psalmist attests to loving God's Word the more he dwells within it. It's this beautiful cycle of studying and steeping in Scripture, only to grow to love it more.
This is taught and praised throughout Scripture, from here in the Psalms to the Proverbs, and even exemplified by Jesus. In Matthew 4, Jesus faces temptation from the Devil, who seeks to seduce Jesus by distorting and reciting Scripture out of its proper context. Verses 5-6 read that Satan repeats Psalm 91, citing it as a reason for Jesus to "prove" Himself and, in turn, answer to Satan. Jesus, knowing God's Word and having internalized it all His life (Luke 2:52a), rejects temptation and responds with the Scripture He's internalized and memorized. While it's impossible for us to become impervious to sin like Jesus, we can obey the Lord by marinating our minds and hearts in God's truth and submitting to His ways. Jesus grew up in wisdom and stature by praying and studying God's Word so that when the time was right, He could be the greater Adam, resisting temptation from Satan himself when Adam and Eve could not.
Here, the Psalmist makes a case for dwelling in and submitting to God's Word and Law, desiring to love, memorize, and proclaim it. The Psalmist desires God and His Word to be the central focus around which his life orbits. We'll dig into this a little bit more in discussion, but the central focus will be on delighting in the Lord and His commands.
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
What is the Psalmist trying to tell us in this passage?
What do you think it means to dwell or meditate in the Lord? Why do you think that's important for us as followers of Jesus?
What are some of God's statutes you struggle to agree with or delight in?
Why do you struggle to delight in God's commands?
What aspects of God's character do you enjoy or meditate on?
Why do you think the Psalmist emphasizes treasuring God's word?
How can you meditate on God's Word this week? How could that change your week?